Apparatus For Converting Broad Band Electromagnetic Energy To Narrow Band Electromagnetic Energy

ABSTRACT

An apparatus and method are provided for converting broad spectrum electromagnetic energy to useful, narrow bands of electromagnetic energy. The broad spectrum electromagnetic energy may be from the Sun or from combustion, and output from the apparatus may be bands of visible light, infrared, microwaves, or a combination thereof. The apparatus can function as part of a highly efficient plant growing system or may function as part of a heating or warming system.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to converting broad band electromagneticenergy to one or more useful, narrow bands of electromagnetic energy.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Photosynthetic efficiency is the fraction of light energy converted intochemical energy during photosynthesis in plants. Combining energy fromphotosynthesis with carbon dioxide, water, and various minerals, plantscan form a vast array of compounds.

For fully absorbed sunlight in the 45% of the light that is in thephotosynthetically active wavelength range, the theoretical maximumefficiency of solar energy conversion is approximately 11%. Plants,however, do not absorb all incoming sunlight and do not convert allharvested energy into biomass, which brings the theoretical maximumvalue to around 5% or less (Renewable biological systems for alternativeunsustainable energy production (http://www.fao.org/docrep/w7241e/w7241e05.htm, section 1.2.1). FAO AgriculturalServices Bulletin (1997).

Even the 45% of light that can be used by plants is not utilized withequal efficiency. Only the blue and red bands of light are used withhigh efficiency. Bands in between are largely unused. So the actualtheoretical photo efficiency of plants is around 1-2% and, in realmeasurements, a factor of 10 lower for some plants(http://hyperphysics.phy-astr.gsu.edu/hbase/Biology/ligabs.html). Thesevalues do not account for the energy plants often dissipate tocompensate for heating effects of light they cannot use.

There is a need to provide efficient and cost effective ways to grow andprepare food and to provide light and warmth in remote locations or inpower down situations.

It is desirable to supplement sunlight for growing vegetables in higherlatitudes and to increase growing seasons. High Intensity Discharge(HID) lighting systems, such as Metal Halide, Ceramic Metal Halide orHigh-Pressure Sodium, are costly and consume large amounts of power.They also do not deliver bands of light that plants can most efficientlyuse, and they force plants to waste their metabolic products to shed theunusable light and heat.

There exist manufacturers of light emitting diodes (LED) grow lights forcommercial and household use where a grid is up and line power isavailable. Many companies also manufacture photovoltaic (PV) panels orthermoelectric (TE) appliances to supply supplemental or replacementpower for remote or power down situations.

Typically, high direct current voltage from the PV panel is fed into aninverter to produce 120 volts of alternating current (AC). Producers ofLED grow lamps typically supply them to operate from AC line power whichis then converted to LED voltages or to operate from a regulated DCvoltage supply. PV panels and thermoelectric appliances, on the otherhand, are usually designed to operate at full power and load at 12-voltsDC but may produce over 20-volts DC when not fully loaded. Unregulated,20-volts would destroy an LED array or series designed for 12-volts.Regulators shed and waste excess voltage and power as heat, andinverters and converters are inefficient, also wasting power as heat.

U.S. Pat. No. 9,200,770 B2 to Chun, which is incorporated herein in itsentirety by reference, discloses a solar light using PV panels,batteries and LEDs for use in power down situations and in remotelocations. The voltage is regulated and controlled, and the lightsources, including LEDs, are selected to produce broad band white lightsuitable for human vision but not ideally suitable for plants.

It would be desirable and useful to power LED series and arrays directlyto produce the narrow bands of light that are optimal for plants. Itwould be desirable to power LEDs that are optimized to provide warmthand comfort to people in remote or grid down circumstances.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention takes advantage of advances in LEDs such that lowsunshine or even sunless growing may be practical for ordinary produce.The present invention takes advantage of the soaring performance andplummeting prices per watt of narrow band LEDs. According to the presentinvention, light and sources of heat in remote locations or power downsituations are provided.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The present invention can be even more fully understood with thereference to the accompanying drawings which are intended to illustrate,not limit, the present invention.

FIG. 1 is a graph showing the actual photochemical efficiency ofchlorophyll a, chlorophyll b, and β-carotene, their combined actualphotochemical efficiency, and the absorption spectrum that wouldmaximize efficiency of all three compounds, all with respect to lightwavelength.

FIG. 2 is a circuit diagram of a solar-powered LED lighting system forgrowing plants, according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a circuit diagram of a solar-powered LED lighting system forgrowing plants, according to another embodiment of the presentinvention.

FIG. 4 is a circuit diagram of a solar-powered LED lighting system forgrowing plants, according to another embodiment of the presentinvention.

FIG. 5 is a circuit diagram of a thermoelectric generator-powered LEDlighting system for growing plants, according to another embodiment ofthe present invention.

FIGS. 6A-6E are schematic diagrams of respective LED lighting systemsaccording to various embodiments of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a schematic diagram of a solar-powered LED lighting systemaccording to an embodiment of the present invention and comprising aplant-growing area, an LED array, a photovoltaic array (PV array), andthe relative energy use efficiencies of the various components.

FIG. 8 is a schematic diagram of a solar-powered LED lighting systemaccording to an embodiment of the present invention and explains how thesystem is used to efficiently grow plants during summer seasons.

FIG. 9 is a schematic diagram of a solar-powered LED lighting systemaccording to an embodiment of the present invention and explains how thesystem is used to efficiently grow plants during winter seasons.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

According to various embodiments of the present invention, an apparatusfor converting broad band electromagnetic energy from a source such assunlight, to one or more narrow bands of electromagnetic energy, isprovided. The apparatus can comprise a first device for converting broadband electromagnetic energy from a source, to electricity. The firstdevice can have a maximum electrical power output. A second device forconverting electricity to one or more narrow bands of electromagneticenergy is also provided and can have a maximum electrical power input. Aconnector, for example, a power cable, wire, switch, relay, regulator,inverter, converter, or combination thereof can be used for directlyconnecting together the first device and the second device. Theconnector may provide interruptions in power to the second deviceaccording to a duty cycle and frequency, or the connector may vary theallocation of power to elements of the second device. In someembodiments, the connector for directly connecting together the firstdevice and the second device can be free of a regulator, inverter,converter, and can comprise only wire. The apparatus can furthercomprise an energy storage device, for example, a battery, in electricalcommunication with the connector, first device, the second device, orthe combinations thereof. The first device can comprise a photovoltaicdevice, a thermoelectric device, or the like.

The second device can comprise an arrangement of electromagnetic energyemitting diodes, for example, light emitting diodes. The arrangement ofelectromagnetic energy emitting diodes can comprise two or more seriesof electromagnetic energy emitting diodes of differing thresholdvoltages. The two or more LEDs series of LEDs of differing or commonthereshold voltages can be connected in parallel. The two or more seriescan comprise a lower threshold voltage series having a maximumelectrical power input, and a higher threshold voltage series. The lowerthreshold voltage series can illuminate before the higher thresholdvoltage series, and the higher threshold voltage series can illuminatebefore the lowest threshold voltage series exceeds the maximumelectrical power input. The threshold voltage of the lower thresholdvoltage LEDs or series of LEDs can be determined by one of anelectromagnetic energy emitting diode of a selected band, or by aselected number of diodes, or by a combination thereof. The LEDs orseries of LEDs may comprise a red light-emitting LED having a thresholdof about 1.6 volts and a maximum of about 2.1 volts, a greenlight-emitting LED having a threshold of about 1.9 volts and a maximumof 4.1 volts, and a blue light-emitting LED having a threshold of about2.5 volts and a maximum of 3.8 volts. At least one of the two or moreseries of electromagnetic energy emitting diodes can comprise a Zenerdiode, a different kind of reverse-biased device, both, or the like.

The arrangement of electromagnetic energy emitting diodes can beconfigured to emit electromagnetic energy in one or more of the violet,blue, green, red, infrared, far-infrared, and microwave bands of theelectromagnetic spectrum. The arrangement can comprise light emittingdiodes (LEDs), organic light emitting diodes (OLEDs), quantum dots,combinations thereof, and the like. The arrangement of electromagneticenergy emitting diodes can be configured to emit electromagnetic energyin the blue, green, and red bands of the electromagnetic spectrum. Theapparatus can further comprise a narrow band management system inoperable communication with the second device and configured to controloutput of the one or more narrow bands of electromagnetic energy. Thenarrow band management system can comprise a processor, amicroprocessor, a computer, a regulator, a combination thereof, or thelike.

The apparatus can further comprise a plant growing system, for example,potting containers, reflecting panels, a fan, an irrigation system, pHand nutrient control systems, warming elements, troughs, raised beds,hydroponic media, soil, combinations thereof, and the like. The seconddevice, for example, an LED lighting system, can be positioned todirect, reflect, or direct and reflect generated electromagnetic energytoward the plant growing system.

According to various embodiments of the present invention, an apparatusfor converting full spectrum sunlight to narrow bands of light requiredto grow plants, is provided. The apparatus can comprise a photovoltaicarray, an arrangement of light emitting diodes that emit light inwavelength bands required to grow plants, and a connector for directlyconnecting the photovoltaic device to the arrangement of light emittingdiodes. The apparatus can further comprise a battery in electricalcommunication with the photovoltaic array, the arrangement of diodes, orboth. The arrangement of light emitting diodes can be configured to emitlight in one or more of the violet, blue, green, red, and infrared bandsof the electromagnetic spectrum. The arrangement of light emittingdiodes can be configured to emit light in the blue, green, and red bandsof the electromagnetic spectrum. The arrangement of light emittingdiodes can be configured to emit light in the blue and red bands of theelectromagnetic spectrum. The arrangement of light emitting diodes canbe configured to emit a ratio of red light to blue light of from about20:1 to about 1:1, or from about 15:1 to about 2:1, or from about 10:1to about 3:1, or from about 8:1 to about 4:1. The arrangement of lightemitting diodes can be configured to emit light in the blue, green, andred bands of the electromagnetic spectrum but not in shorter,intermediate, or longer wavelengths. The arrangement of light emittingdiodes can be integrated into a single device comprising two or moreLEDs. The arrangements can consist of only blue and red LEDs. Thearrangement can consist of only blue, green, and red LEDs. The apparatuscan further comprise a plant growing system, wherein the arrangement oflight emitting diodes is positioned to direct light toward the plantgrowing system.

According to yet other various embodiments of the present invention, amethod of growing plants is provided, which involves converting theenergy of full spectrum sunlight to narrow bands of light that arefavorable to plant growth. The method can comprise illuminating aphotovoltaic device, such as a photovoltaic array (PV array), withsunlight, wherein the photovoltaic device comprises an electricaloutput. The method can comprise directly connecting the electricaloutput to an arrangement of light emitting diodes so as to power thearrangement. The arrangement of light emitting diodes can provide narrowbands of light favorable to plant growth, for example, narrow bands thatare sub-sets of full spectrum sunlight. The method can also compriseilluminating plants with the narrow bands of light favorable to plantgrowth, so produced. The photovoltaic array can have a first lightabsorption area, and the method can further comprise illuminating thefirst light absorption area with summer sunlight, and illuminating asecond plant growing area that is larger than the first area, with thenarrow bands of light favorable to plant growth. The second area can be,for example, at least 10% larger than the first area, at least 20%larger than the first area, at least 50% larger than the first area, atleast 100% larger than the first area, at least 200% larger than thefirst area, or at least 500% larger than the first area. Thephotovoltaic array can have a first light absorption area, and themethod can further comprise illuminating the first light absorption areawith winter sunlight, and illuminating a growing area of about the samesize as the first light absorption area, with narrow bands of lightfavorable to plant growth. The growing area can be, for example, atleast 50% as large as the first area, at least 75% as large as firstarea, at least 100% as large as the first area, at least 150% largerthan the first area, or at least 200% larger than the first area.

According to various embodiments of the present invention, an apparatusfor converting radiant energy from combustion to narrow bands of lightthat are favorable to plant growth, is provided. The apparatus cancomprise a thermoelectric device and an arrangement of light emittingdiodes. The diodes can emit light in wavelength bands required to growplants. A connector can be provided for directly connecting thethermoelectric device to the arrangement of light emitting diodes. Theapparatus can further comprise a battery in electrical communicationwith the thermoelectric device. The diodes can comprise an arrangementof light emitting diodes configured to emit light in one or more of theviolet, blue, green, red, and infrared bands of the electromagneticspectrum. In some cases, the arrangement of light emitting diodes can beconfigured to emit light in the blue, green, and red bands of theelectromagnetic spectrum. In some cases, the arrangement of lightemitting diodes can be configured to emit light in the blue, green, andred bands of the electromagnetic spectrum, but not in shorter,intermediate, or longer wavelengths. The arrangements can consist ofblue, green, and red LEDs. In some cases, the arrangement of lightemitting diodes can be configured to emit light in the blue and redbands of the electromagnetic spectrum. The arrangement can consist ofonly blue and red LEDs. The arrangement of light emitting diodes can beconfigured to emit a ratio of red light to blue light of from about 10:1to about 3:1 or in any of the other ratio ranges disclosed above. Theapparatus can further comprise a plant growing system, wherein thearrangement of light emitting diodes is positioned to direct, reflect,or direct and reflect light toward the plant growing system.

According to various embodiments of the present invention, a method ofgrowing plants is provided whereby radiant energy of combustion isconverted to narrow bands of light that are favorable to plant growth.The method can comprise irradiating a thermoelectric device with radiantenergy from combustion, wherein the thermoelectric device comprises anelectrical output. The method can comprise directly connecting theelectrical output to an arrangement of light emitting diodes so as topower the arrangement. The arrangement of light emitting diodes can beconfigured or selected to produce narrow bands of light favorable toplant growth and that are sub-sets of full spectrum sunlight. Accordingto the method, plants are then illuminated with the narrow bands oflight favorable to plant growth. The arrangement of light emittingdiodes can be configured to emit light in one or more of the violet,blue, green, red, and infrared bands of the electromagnetic spectrum.The arrangement of light emitting diodes can be configured to emit lightin the infrared bands of the electromagnetic spectrum, for example, inthe far-infrared band, to efficiently provide warmth to persons exposedto it. The arrangement of light emitting diodes can be configured toemit light in the blue, green, and red bands of the electromagneticspectrum. The arrangement of light emitting diodes can be configured toemit light in the blue, green, and red bands of the electromagneticspectrum, but not in shorter, intermediate, or longer wavelengths. Thearrangement of light emitting diodes can be configured to emit a ratioof red light to blue light of from about 10:1 to about 3:1 or in any ofthe other ratio ranges disclosed above. The plants can be arranged in aplant growing system as described herein and the arrangement of lightemitting diodes can be positioned to direct the narrow bands of lighttoward the plant growing system.

In yet other various embodiments of the present invention, an apparatusfor converting broad band radiant energy from combustion to one or morenarrow bands of infrared light or microwaves, is provided. The apparatuscan comprise a thermoelectric device, an arrangement of diodescomprising at least one of infrared emitting diodes and microwaveemitting diodes, and a connector for directly connecting thethermoelectric device to the arrangement of diodes. The connector can beconfigured to enable the arrangement of diodes to be powered by thethermoelectric device. The apparatus can further comprise a battery inelectrical communication with the thermoelectric device.

FIG. 1 is a graph showing the actual photochemical efficiency ofchlorophyll a, chlorophyll b, and β-carotene, their combined actualphotochemical efficiency, and the absorption spectrum that wouldmaximize efficiency of all three compounds, all with respect to lightwavelength. As can be discerned from FIG. 1, the energy from sunlight islargely unused by plants, while LEDs according to the present inventioncan provide precisely the wavelengths plants do need and can use atmaximum efficiency without dissipating energy to avoid damage by heat.

A PV panel can convert the Sun's broad spectrum light at about 20%efficiency, and LEDs can convert electricity to light at 120 to 150lumens per watt, which is almost three times more efficient than compactfluorescent lights and up to eight times more efficient than that ofincandescent lights. According to the present invention, and evenallowing for the inefficiency of PV panels, the combination of a PVarray having a given area with narrow band LEDs can produce over tentimes more light that is useful to plants than the same given area ofsunlight.

These broad band-to-narrow band relationships can work in twocontinuously interrelated ways. In bright summer sunlight, a PV paneland LEDs can produce ten times the growing area of direct sunlight onthe panel area. Or, in dim winter sunlight, a PV panel and LEDs canilluminate the same panel area with narrow band light that is ten timesbrighter than winter sunlight that is useful to plants. In wintersunlight at mid to high latitudes, the PV-LED combination can more thancompensate for the plant-usable low solar flux, allowing summervegetables to be grown in winter. In summer, an area of PV cells cangrow a much larger area of plants than direct sunshine, especiallybenefiting those who have limited access to full Sun.

This non-intuitive view is only economically feasible because of theamazing progress in the power and efficiency of PV, TE, and LEDtechnology.

Without a sufficient load, both PV and TE devices produce voltagesalmost twice their loaded voltage. A PV or TE device capable ofdelivering 24 watts of power at 12-volts DC under load will destroy a 10watt, 12-volt LED with over 20 volts. However, PV and TE devices haveoutputs that are dependent on inputs of light or heat, respectively. TheSun comes up slowly on a PV panel as does the voltage and availablepower. The same could be said for a TE device, as the thermal energyincreases from a combustion process or a friction or possibly moltengeothermal source.

Managing this over voltage, over power situation, without wastingvaluable power as heat, can be accomplished by various embodiments ofthe present invention.

In one or more embodiments, the present invention provides advantagesfrom the discovery that LEDs of various colors have single and differentLED threshold voltages, such that one color can control the currentrunning through a series of LEDs. For example, a blue LED in a seriescomprising a plurality of red LEDs will prevent current from flowingthrough the entire series until the voltage drop across the blue LEDexceeds a voltage of just below 3-volts, herein, also referred to asabout 3 volts. Meanwhile, the red LEDs will only light up, that is,become activated, if the blue LED in the series is activated. This istrue even though the voltage drop across one red LED only needs toexceed a voltage of about 1.6-volts to become activated. Thus, the blueLED in such a series controls the entire series. Although a PV array maygenerate enough voltage to power a series of red LEDs, it may be moreefficient to use the PV array to store or divert energy and not powerthe red LEDs until one or more blue LEDs can also be powered. In such ascenario a broader spectrum comprising two different narrow bands ofirradiation can illuminate a plant-growing area and the PV array can beprovided with a longer period of time to convert and store solar energyas stored electricity. Or the solar energy may be diverted to a group ofLEDs having a lower threshold than the blue LED(s). Accordingly, a blueLED or a group of blue LEDs, can be included in a series of red LEDs sothat the red LEDs will not produce light, that is, become activated,before the blue LED or before the group of blue LEDs becomes activated.

Plants that more efficiently photosynthesize when exposed to light incertain wavelengths can be efficiently grown by tailoring theconstruction of one or more series of LEDs. The tailoring can includecalculating the best combination of percentages of red, blue, and greenLEDs and the best distributions of those LEDs along the series.

Combinations of series and parallel circuits can be made and used toprovide various goals. A parallel circuit can have two, or more, seriesof LEDs connected thereto and branching off such that both seriesreceive voltage simultaneously through the parallel circuit. Differencesin the two series branching off of the parallel circuit can determinewhich of the two series becomes activated first and what combinations ofwavelengths are emitted from each series. In an example, one seriesbranching off of a parallel circuit can consist of 20 red LEDs while theother series can consist of 20 blue LEDs. At first, for example, in theearly morning when very little voltage is generated by the PV array,only the series of red LEDs might become activated while the series ofblue LEDs would not become activated. The series of blue LEDs, thatrequires a greater voltage to become activated compared to the series ofred LEDs, might not become activated until the PV array generates enoughvoltage (e.g., about three volts) from the mid-day sun to activate theblue LEDs. For a plant species that thrives on more red light comparedto blue light, such a system might be ideal. Also, in very lowincident-light conditions, such as during evening hours or under cloudyconditions, wherein the PV array generates only enough voltage toactivate red LEDs but does not generate enough voltage to activate blueLEDs, at least some red light can be cast on a plant growing area asopposed to no light at all. On the other hand, to prevent such an unevendistribution of wavelengths throughout the day, one or more blue LEDscan be incorporated into an otherwise red LED series to controlactivation of the series until the blue LED is activated. In otherembodiments, two or more identical series of LEDs can be used, branchingoff of a parallel circuit.

The cascading activation of different LED series can also be controlledby using different numbers of the same LEDs in the different series. Aseries having a certain number of LEDs of the same color will passcurrent and become activated before a series of the same color buthaving a larger number of LEDs. In some embodiments, one or more seriesof LEDs, for example, having 20 LEDs each, can be arranged above anddirected toward the periphery of a growing area, whereas one or morelonger series of LEDs, for example, having 40 LEDs each, can be arrangeddirectly above and directed toward the center of the growing area. Insuch an example, early morning and late-day sun may provide the PV arraywith sufficient energy to produce voltage to activate the shorter seriesof LEDs while the mid-day sun can provide enough energy for the PV arrayto produce enough voltage to activate the longer series of LEDs. Assuch, plants at or near the periphery of the growing area can receivelight from short LED series for a longer period of each day but plantsin the middle of the growing area can receive more powerful light, fromlonger series of LEDs, albeit for a shorter period of each day.

In still another embodiment, a Zener diode or other reverse biaseddevice, having a selected reverse voltage, and in series with LEDs, willnot pass current, illuminate the LEDs, and consume power, until thevoltage drop across the Zener or other reverse biased device exceedsthat bias. Once the Zener threshold is reached, their resistance is low,producing little heat.

A surprising benefit of this discovery is that one series of LEDs,having a combined voltage drop, can be almost fully illuminated beforeanother series in parallel, having a higher combined voltage drop,begins to pass current, illuminate the series, and prevent the firstseries from being destroyed by over voltage. This arrangement providesmore light at lower voltages than a single series matched to the fullpower of the PV or TE device. The cascade of illumination from oneseries to the next as the voltage and power rise provides a better powerto illumination curve than a matched series. Plants can also benefitfrom increased red light at low power and elevated levels of blue lightat full power.

FIGS. 2-4 are circuit diagrams of solar-powered LED lighting systems forgrowing plants, according to various embodiments of the presentinvention. FIG. 2 shows a system comprising a photovoltaic array 20, anarrangement of addressable LED series 21, a parallel series 22 of Xnumber of red LEDs 23, a parallel series 24 of Y number of blue LEDs 25,a parallel series 26 of Z number of green LEDs 27, a battery 28, and acontroller 29 that can comprise, for example, a circuit board, centralprocessing unit, and the like.

FIG. 3 shows a system comprising a photovoltaic array 30, a parallelseries 31 of red LEDs, a parallel series 32 of one blue and five redLEDs, a parallel series 33 of green LEDs, a series 34 of blue LEDs, andcircuit lines connecting the photovoltaic array to the series and thatcan lead to a controller.

FIG. 4 shows a system comprising a photovoltaic array 40, group 41 of 20series of eight red LEDs 42, a group 43 of ten series of four blue LEDs44, a group 45 of two series of four green LEDs 46, and circuit linesconnecting the photovoltaic array to the series and that can lead to acontroller.

FIG. 5 is a circuit diagram of a thermoelectric generator-powered LEDlighting system for growing plants, according to another embodiment ofthe present invention. FIG. 5 shows a system comprising a thermoelectricgenerator 50, an arrangement of addressable LED series 51, a parallelseries 52 of X number of red LEDs 53, a parallel series 54 of Y numberof blue LEDs 55, a parallel series 56 of Z number of green LEDs 57, abattery 58, and a controller 59 that can comprise, for example, acircuit board, central processing unit, and the like.

FIGS. 6A-6E are schematic diagrams of other respective LED lightingsystems according to various embodiments of the present invention.

Other systems according to the present teachings are shown schematicallyin FIGS. 7-9. FIG. 7 is a schematic diagram of a solar-powered LEDlighting system according to an embodiment of the present invention andcomprising a plant-growing area, an LED array 74, and a photovoltaicarray 72 (PV array). FIG. 7 demonstrates the relative energy useefficiencies of the various components. PV array 72 and LED array 74 arein electrical connection with each other through an electrical wire ortrace 76. For a system, as shown, that receives 1000 watts of incidentlight on a one square meter PV array that is 20% efficient, and thatpowers an LED array that is 80% efficient, 160 watts of red, blue, andgreen light can be generated. Assuming that tomato plants use only 2% ofincident sunlight or 20 watts of a square meter of summer, mid-daysunlight, the system provides eight times more useful growing light than1000 watts of incident, summer, mid-day sunlight.

FIG. 8 is a schematic diagram of a solar-powered LED lighting systemaccording to an embodiment of the present invention, for use duringsummer seasons. FIG. 8 explains how the system is used to efficientlygrow plants during summer seasons. A roof-top PV array of one squaremeter, which is 20% efficient, receives 1000 watts of summer, mid-day,full-spectrum sunlight and produces 200 watts of power. By using an LEDarray that is 80% efficient and that consists of red, blue, and greenLEDs, 160 watts of light useful to grow plants can be spread over fivesquare meters with each square meter receiving about 32 watts of useful,plant-growing wavelengths. When compared with natural sunlight, andgiven that most plants use only 2% of full-spectrum sunlight such thatone square meter of growing area would only receive 20 watts of useful,natural, plant-growing wavelengths, it can be seen that the system ofthe present invention is much more efficient at growing plants in thesummer, compared with natural sunlight.

FIG. 9 is a schematic diagram of a solar-powered LED lighting systemaccording to an embodiment of the present invention, for use duringwinter seasons. FIG. 9 explains how the system is used to efficientlygrow plants during winter seasons. A roof-top PV array of one squaremeter that is 20% efficient receives 400 watts of winter, mid-day,full-spectrum sunlight and produces 80 watts of power. By using an LEDarray that is 80% efficient and that consists of red, blue, and greenLEDs, 64 watts of light useful to grow plants can be spread over threesquare meters with each square meter receiving about 21 watts of useful,plant-growing wavelengths. When compared with natural sunlight, andgiven that most plants use only 2% of full-spectrum sunlight such thatone square meter of growing area would only receive 8 watts of useful,natural, plant-growing wavelengths, it can be seen that the system ofthe present invention is more efficient at growing plants during thewinter, compared with natural sunlight.

Electromagnetic energy emitting diodes span the spectrum now frommicrowaves to ultra violet, and the power and cost are always improving.In yet another embodiment of the present invention, food preparation isefficiently made possible with infrared or microwave diodes.

In still another embodiment, actual warming of people is effected by farinfrared or near microwave diodes without heating the space around thepeople. In such an embodiment, the heating is similar to being in thepresence of a fireplace or wood stove in a cool room.

The present invention includes the following numbered aspects,embodiments, and features, in any order and/or in any combination:

1. An apparatus for converting broad band electromagnetic energy from asource to one or more narrow bands of electromagnetic energy, theapparatus comprising: a first device for converting broad bandelectromagnetic energy from a source to electricity, the first devicehaving a maximum electrical power output; a second device for convertingelectricity to one or more narrow bands of electromagnetic energy,having a maximum electrical power input; and a connector for directlyconnecting together the first device and the second device.

2. The apparatus of any preceding or followingembodiment/feature/aspect, wherein the connector for directly connectingtogether the first device and the second device is free of a regulator,inverter, and converter.

3. The apparatus of any preceding or followingembodiment/feature/aspect, further comprising an energy storage devicein electrical communication with the first device.

4. The apparatus of any preceding or followingembodiment/feature/aspect, wherein the first device comprises aphotovoltaic device or a thermoelectric device.

5. The apparatus of any preceding or followingembodiment/feature/aspect, wherein the second device comprises anarrangement of electromagnetic energy emitting diodes.

6. The apparatus of any preceding or followingembodiment/feature/aspect, wherein the electromagnetic energy emittingdiodes comprise light emitting diodes.

7. The apparatus of any preceding or followingembodiment/feature/aspect, wherein the arrangement of electromagneticenergy emitting diodes comprises two or more diodes series ofelectromagnetic energy emitting diodes of differing threshold voltages,connected in parallel, the two or more diodes or series comprising alower threshold voltage series having a maximum electrical power input,and a highest threshold voltage series, wherein the lower thresholdvoltage series illuminates before the highest threshold voltage series,and the highest threshold voltage series illuminates before the lowestthreshold voltage series exceeds the maximum electrical power input.

8. The apparatus of any preceding or followingembodiment/feature/aspect, wherein a threshold voltage of the lowerthreshold voltage series is determined by one of an electromagneticenergy emitting diode of a selected band, and a selected number ofdiodes.

9. The apparatus of any preceding or followingembodiment/feature/aspect, wherein at least one of the two or moreseries of electromagnetic energy emitting diodes comprises a Zenerdiode, a reverse-biased device, or both.

10. The apparatus of any preceding or followingembodiment/feature/aspect, wherein the arrangement of electromagneticenergy emitting diodes is configured to emit electromagnetic energy inone or more of the violet, blue, green, red, infrared, and microwavebands of the electromagnetic spectrum.

11. The apparatus of any preceding or followingembodiment/feature/aspect, wherein the arrangement of electromagneticenergy emitting diodes is configured to emit electromagnetic energy inthe blue, green, and red bands of the electromagnetic spectrum.

12. The apparatus of any preceding or followingembodiment/feature/aspect, further comprising a narrow band managementsystem in operable communication with the second device and configuredto control output of the one or more narrow bands of electromagneticenergy.

13. The apparatus of any preceding or followingembodiment/feature/aspect, wherein the narrow band management systemcomprises a computer.

14. The apparatus of any preceding or followingembodiment/feature/aspect, further comprising a plant growing system,wherein the second device is positioned to direct generatedelectromagnetic energy toward the plant growing system.

15. An apparatus for converting full spectrum sunlight to narrow bandsof light required to grow plants, the apparatus comprising: aphotovoltaic array; an arrangement of light emitting diodes that emitlight in wavelength bands required to grow plants; and a connector fordirectly connecting the photovoltaic device to the arrangement of lightemitting diodes.

16. The apparatus of any preceding or followingembodiment/feature/aspect, further comprising a battery in electricalcommunication with the photovoltaic array.

17. The apparatus of any preceding or followingembodiment/feature/aspect, wherein the arrangement of light emittingdiodes is configured to emit light in one or more of the violet, blue,green, red, and infrared bands of the electromagnetic spectrum.

18. The apparatus of any preceding or followingembodiment/feature/aspect, wherein the arrangement of light emittingdiodes is configured to emit light in the blue, green, and red bands ofthe electromagnetic spectrum, but not in shorter or longer wavelengths.

19. The apparatus of any preceding or followingembodiment/feature/aspect, further comprising a plant growing system,wherein the arrangement of light emitting diodes is positioned to directlight toward the plant growing system.

20. A method of growing plants by converting the energy of full spectrumsunlight to narrow bands of light that are favorable to plant growth,the method comprising:

illuminating a photovoltaic device with sunlight, the photovoltaicdevice comprising an electrical output;

directly connecting the electrical output to an arrangement of lightemitting diodes to power the arrangement, the arrangement of lightemitting diodes providing narrow bands of light favorable to plantgrowth and that are sub-sets of the full spectrum sunlight; and

illuminating plants with the narrow bands of light favorable to plantgrowth.

21. The method of any preceding or following embodiment/feature/aspect,wherein the photovoltaic array has a first light absorption area, andthe method further comprises:

illuminating the first light absorption area with summer sunlight; and

illuminating a second area that is at least 10% larger than the firstarea, with the narrow bands of light favorable to plant growth.

22. The method of any preceding or following embodiment/feature/aspect,wherein the photovoltaic array has a first light absorption area, andthe method further comprises:

illuminating the first light absorption area with winter sunlight; and

illuminating a growing area of the same size as the first lightabsorption area, with the narrow bands of light favorable to plantgrowth.

23. An apparatus for converting radiant energy from combustion to narrowbands of light that are favorable to plant growth, the apparatuscomprising: a thermoelectric device; an arrangement of light emittingdiodes that emit light in wavelength bands required to grow plants; anda connector for directly connecting the thermoelectric device to thearrangement of light emitting diodes.

24. The apparatus of any preceding or followingembodiment/feature/aspect, further comprising a battery in electricalcommunication with the thermoelectric device.

25. The apparatus of any preceding or followingembodiment/feature/aspect, wherein the arrangement of light emittingdiodes is configured to emit light in one or more of the violet, blue,green, red, and infrared bands of the electromagnetic spectrum.

26. The apparatus of any preceding or followingembodiment/feature/aspect, wherein the arrangement of light emittingdiodes is configured to emit light in the blue, green, and red bands ofthe electromagnetic spectrum, but not in shorter or longer wavelengths.

27. The apparatus of any preceding or followingembodiment/feature/aspect, further comprising a plant growing system,wherein the arrangement of light emitting diodes is positioned to directlight toward the plant growing system.

28. A method of growing plants by converting radiant energy ofcombustion to narrow bands of light that are favorable to plant growth,the method comprising:

irradiating a thermoelectric device with radiant energy from combustion,the thermoelectric device comprising an electrical output;

directly connecting the electrical output to an arrangement of lightemitting diodes to power the arrangement, the arrangement of lightemitting diodes producing narrow bands of light favorable to plantgrowth and that are sub-sets of full spectrum sunlight; and

illuminating plants with the narrow bands of light favorable to plantgrowth.

29. The method of any preceding or following embodiment/feature/aspect,wherein the arrangement of light emitting diodes is configured to emitlight in one or more of the violet, blue, green, red, and infrared bandsof the electromagnetic spectrum.

30. The method of any preceding or following embodiment/feature/aspect,wherein the arrangement of light emitting diodes is configured to emitlight in the blue, green, and red bands of the electromagnetic spectrum,but not in shorter or longer wavelengths.

31. The method of any preceding or following embodiment/feature/aspect,wherein the plants are arranged in a plant growing system and thearrangement of light emitting diodes is positioned to direct the narrowbands of light toward the plant growing system.

32. An apparatus for converting broad band radiant energy fromcombustion to one or more narrow bands of infrared light or microwaves,the apparatus comprising: a thermoelectric device; an arrangement ofdiodes comprising at least one of infrared emitting diodes and microwaveemitting diodes; and a connector for directly connecting thethermoelectric device to the arrangement of diodes and for powering thearrangement of diodes with the thermoelectric device.

33. The apparatus of any preceding embodiment/feature/aspect, furthercomprising a battery in electrical communication with the thermoelectricdevice.

The present invention can include any combination of these variousembodiments, features, and aspects above as set forth in the numberedsentences and/or paragraphs. Any combination of disclosed featuresherein is considered part of the present invention and no limitation isintended with respect to combinable features.

The entire contents of all references cited in this disclosure areincorporated herein in their entireties, by reference. Further, when anamount, concentration, or other value or parameter is given as either arange, preferred range, or a list of upper preferable values and lowerpreferable values, this is to be understood as specifically disclosingall ranges formed from any pair of any upper range limit or preferredvalue and any lower range limit or preferred value, regardless ofwhether such ranges are separately disclosed. Where a range of numericalvalues is recited herein, unless otherwise stated, the range is intendedto include the endpoints thereof, and all integers and fractions withinthe range. It is not intended that the scope of the invention be limitedto the specific values recited when defining a range.

Other embodiments of the present invention will be apparent to thoseskilled in the art from consideration of the present specification andpractice of the present invention disclosed herein. It is intended thatthe present specification and examples be considered as exemplary only,with a true scope and spirit of the invention being indicated by thefollowing claims and equivalents thereof.

1. An apparatus for converting broad band electromagnetic energy from asource to one or more narrow bands of electromagnetic energy, theapparatus comprising: a first device for converting broad bandelectromagnetic energy from a source to electricity, the first devicehaving a maximum electrical power output; a second device for convertingelectricity to one or more narrow bands of electromagnetic energy,having a maximum electrical power input; and a connector for directlyconnecting together the first device and the second device.
 2. Theapparatus of claim 1, wherein the connector for directly connectingtogether the first device and the second device is free of a regulator,inverter, and converter.
 3. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprisingan energy storage device in electrical communication with the firstdevice, the second device, the connector, or combinations thereof. 4.The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the first device comprises aphotovoltaic device or a thermoelectric device.
 5. The apparatus ofclaim 1, wherein the second device comprises an arrangement ofelectromagnetic energy emitting diodes.
 6. The apparatus of claim 5,wherein the electromagnetic energy emitting diodes comprise lightemitting diodes.
 7. The apparatus of claim 5, wherein the arrangement ofelectromagnetic energy emitting diodes comprises two or more series ofelectromagnetic energy emitting diodes of differing threshold voltages,connected in parallel, the two or more series comprising a lowerthreshold voltage series having a maximum electrical power input, and ahighest threshold voltage series, wherein the lower threshold voltageseries illuminates before the highest threshold voltage series, and thehighest threshold voltage series illuminates before the lowest thresholdvoltage series exceeds the maximum electrical power input.
 8. Theapparatus of claim 7, wherein a threshold voltage of the lower thresholdvoltage series is determined by one of an electromagnetic energyemitting diode of a selected band, and a selected number of diodes. 9.The apparatus of claim 7, wherein at least one of the two or more seriesof electromagnetic energy emitting diodes comprises a Zener diode, areverse-biased device, or both.
 10. The apparatus of claim 5, whereinthe arrangement of electromagnetic energy emitting diodes is configuredto emit electromagnetic energy in one or more of the violet, blue,green, red, infrared, and microwave bands of the electromagneticspectrum.
 11. The apparatus of claim 5, wherein the arrangement ofelectromagnetic energy emitting diodes is configured to emitelectromagnetic energy in the blue, green, and red bands of theelectromagnetic spectrum.
 12. The apparatus of claim 1, furthercomprising a narrow band management system in operable communicationwith the second device and configured to control output of the one ormore narrow bands of electromagnetic energy.
 13. The apparatus of claim12, wherein the narrow band management system comprises a computer. 14.The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a plant growing system,wherein the second device is positioned to direct generatedelectromagnetic energy toward the plant growing system.
 15. An apparatusfor converting full spectrum sunlight to narrow bands of light requiredto grow plants, the apparatus comprising: a photovoltaic array; anarrangement of light emitting diodes that emit light in wavelength bandsrequired to grow plants; and a connector for directly connecting thephotovoltaic device to the arrangement of light emitting diodes.
 16. Theapparatus of claim 15, further comprising a battery in electricalcommunication with the photovoltaic array.
 17. The apparatus of claim15, wherein the arrangement of light emitting diodes is configured toemit light in one or more of the violet, blue, green, red, and infraredbands of the electromagnetic spectrum.
 18. The apparatus of claim 15,wherein the arrangement of light emitting diodes is configured to emitlight in the blue, green, and red bands of the electromagnetic spectrum,but not in shorter or longer wavelengths.
 19. The apparatus of claim 15,further comprising a plant growing system, wherein the arrangement oflight emitting diodes is positioned to direct light toward the plantgrowing system.
 20. A method of growing plants by converting the energyof full spectrum sunlight to narrow bands of light that are favorable toplant growth, the method comprising: illuminating a photovoltaic devicewith sunlight, the photovoltaic device comprising an electrical output;directly connecting the electrical output to an arrangement of lightemitting diodes to power the arrangement, the arrangement of lightemitting diodes providing narrow bands of light favorable to plantgrowth and that are sub-sets of the full spectrum sunlight; andilluminating plants with the narrow bands of light favorable to plantgrowth.
 21. The method of claim 20, wherein the photovoltaic array has afirst light absorption area, and the method further comprises:illuminating the first light absorption area with summer sunlight; andilluminating a second area that is at least 10% larger than the firstarea, with the narrow bands of light favorable to plant growth.
 22. Themethod of claim 20, wherein the photovoltaic array has a first lightabsorption area, and the method further comprises: illuminating thefirst light absorption area with winter sunlight; and illuminating agrowing area of the same size as the first light absorption area, withthe narrow bands of light favorable to plant growth. 23.-33. (canceled)